Wispr Flow vs Superwhisper

Last updated October 2026

Choosing a voice-to-text tool for your Mac comes down to a few core tradeoffs: cloud processing versus local transcription, subscription pricing versus a one-time purchase, and simplicity versus deep customization. Wispr Flow and Superwhisper represent two distinct approaches to the same problem. Both let you dictate text into any app on your Mac, but the way they get there, and what they cost, differs in ways that matter depending on how you work.

This page breaks down each tool's features, pricing, and limitations so you can make a confident decision.

How Wispr Flow works

Wispr Flow is a cloud-based AI dictation tool that runs on Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android. You press and hold a hotkey to speak, then release it, and the transcribed text appears in whichever app is focused. There is also a hands-free mode for continuous dictation.

What sets Wispr Flow apart from older dictation tools is its approach to natural language cleanup. It removes filler words like "um" and "uh," corrects grammatical errors, fixes punctuation, and restructures awkward phrasing. If you change your mind mid-sentence and correct yourself, the tool recognizes the correction and outputs only the final version. In one reviewer's test, saying a meeting time and then immediately correcting it produced only the corrected time in the output.

Wispr Flow also adapts its tone to the app you are using. Dictating into Slack produces more casual text, while composing an email results in something more polished. This context-aware behavior works automatically once you start using it.

The tool supports over 100 languages, including multilingual mixing like Hinglish. It includes a personal dictionary for names and technical terms, snippets for frequently used phrases, and a Command Mode (paid plans only) that lets you edit selected text by voice. A Notetaker feature for meetings is available on higher-tier plans, running without a bot joining your call.

Because Wispr Flow processes audio in the cloud, it requires an internet connection and your audio is sent to remote servers for transcription. This is worth considering if you work with sensitive material or operate under strict data handling requirements.

How Superwhisper works

Superwhisper takes a local-first approach to voice dictation. It runs OpenAI's Whisper models directly on your device, so audio never has to leave your Mac unless you choose a cloud model. The default workflow is the same as Wispr Flow: hold a hotkey, speak, release, and the text appears in your active app.

The key differentiator for Superwhisper is its model selection. You can choose from several local Whisper models ranging from Tiny (fast but less accurate) to Large V3 Turbo (slower but highly accurate). The app also supports NVIDIA Parakeet models and on-device LLMs for post-processing your transcriptions. If you want cloud-quality results, you can bring your own API keys from providers like OpenAI, Anthropic, Deepgram, or ElevenLabs.

Superwhisper's Custom Modes system is its most distinctive feature. Each mode is a saved configuration with its own hotkey, transcription model, LLM prompt, and rules for when it activates. You can create a Slack mode that rewrites your dictation as casual messages, a coding mode that formats output as code comments, an email mode with a more formal tone, and so on. These modes can switch automatically based on which app or website is in the foreground.

The app runs on macOS 13.3 or later, Windows 10 or later, and iOS 18 or later. There is no Android app. Apple Silicon Macs are strongly recommended for local processing. Intel Macs can run cloud models, but local transcription performance on older hardware is poor.

Superwhisper is open about its tradeoffs. The learning curve is steeper than simpler tools because of all the configuration options. Audio recordings are saved to disk by default. API keys are stored in plaintext JSON rather than in the macOS Keychain. And despite running locally, the app is closed source, so its privacy claims cannot be independently verified.

Pricing comparison

Superwhisper is meaningfully cheaper at every tier. Its $84.99/yr annual plan costs about 60% of what Wispr Flow Pro charges, and the $249.99 lifetime option breaks even against its own annual plan around year three. Wispr Flow does not offer a lifetime purchase.

If you use Superwhisper's cloud LLM features through your own API keys, those costs are separate. Depending on usage, that could add $5 to $40 per month.

Wispr Flow has the edge on team and enterprise features. Its Growth plan adds SAML SSO and HIPAA compliance with a signed BAA, while Enterprise includes SCIM provisioning, audit logs, and MDM support. Superwhisper is built for individual users and does not offer team management tools.

Accuracy and speed

Both tools produce clean, usable text from spoken input, but they get there differently.

Wispr Flow processes everything in the cloud using proprietary models. The advantage is consistent quality regardless of your hardware. Reviewers report strong accuracy even at low speaking volumes, and the tool handles technical vocabulary well once you add terms to the personal dictionary. The tradeoff is latency, since audio has to travel to a server and back.

Superwhisper's accuracy depends heavily on which model you select. The Whisper Large V3 Turbo model offers a good balance of speed and precision, running about 8x faster than the full Large V3 with only a small drop in accuracy. Smaller models like Tiny and Base are faster but noticeably less accurate. If you have an M1 or later Mac, the larger models run well. On Intel hardware, you will want to use cloud models instead.

For most users dictating emails, messages, and documents, both tools produce results that need minimal editing.

Privacy and data handling

This is where the two tools diverge most sharply.

Wispr Flow is a cloud service. Your audio is transmitted to remote servers for processing. The company offers HIPAA compliance on its Growth plan with a signed BAA, which provides a framework for handling protected health information. For general use, you are trusting Wispr's infrastructure and policies with your spoken content.

Superwhisper can run entirely offline using local Whisper models. In this configuration, audio stays on your device and no internet connection is needed. However, the app saves audio recordings to disk by default, and there is reportedly no toggle to disable this. If you use cloud models through your own API keys, those requests are proxied through Superwhisper's infrastructure, adding a layer between you and the provider.

Neither tool is open source, so privacy guarantees for both ultimately rest on the companies' claims rather than auditable code.

Who each tool is best for

Wispr Flow is the better choice if you want something that works well out of the box without much configuration, if you need Android support, or if you are part of a team that requires admin controls, SSO, or HIPAA compliance. Its free tier with 2,000 words per week is generous enough to test the product thoroughly before committing. Try Wispr Flow free.

Superwhisper is the better choice if offline, on-device processing matters to you, if you want to avoid a recurring subscription, or if you want deep control over how your dictation is processed through Custom Modes. Power users who enjoy configuring tools to match their exact workflow will appreciate the flexibility. The lifetime purchase makes it especially appealing if you plan to use voice dictation for years.

Where Fabric fits

If you are recording meetings, interviews, or voice notes and need to find information across those recordings later, Fabric adds a layer that neither Wispr Flow nor Superwhisper provides. Fabric is a personal cloud and context layer with audio and video transcription built in. Once your recordings are transcribed, Fabric's AI search lets you find specific moments across all your content, and its AI assistant (with four models to choose from) can answer questions about what was said.

Fabric starts with a free tier, then $8/mo on an annual plan or $10/mo monthly. The company also plants trees based on usage.

You can use Wispr Flow or Superwhisper for real-time dictation and Fabric for organizing and searching everything you have recorded. They solve different parts of the same problem.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Wispr Flow free?

Yes. Wispr Flow offers a free tier with 2,000 words per week on desktop and 1,000 words per week on mobile. The weekly limit resets every Sunday. New accounts also get a 14-day Pro trial with no credit card required.

Is Superwhisper free?

Superwhisper has a permanent free tier that includes small local Whisper models (Tiny and Base), support for 100+ languages, and up to three custom modes. It is not a time-limited trial. Larger models and unlimited custom modes require a paid plan.

Does Superwhisper work offline?

Yes. When using local Whisper models, Superwhisper runs entirely on your device with no internet connection needed. Cloud models and LLM post-processing features require an internet connection and your own API keys.

Does Wispr Flow work offline?

No. Wispr Flow is a cloud-based service and requires an internet connection to transcribe audio. Your spoken audio is sent to remote servers for processing.

Which is more accurate, Wispr Flow or Superwhisper?

Both produce high-quality transcriptions for everyday dictation. Wispr Flow delivers consistent results regardless of your hardware since it processes in the cloud. Superwhisper's accuracy depends on which model you choose: the Large V3 Turbo model matches cloud quality on Apple Silicon Macs, while smaller models sacrifice accuracy for speed.

Is Superwhisper available on Android?

No. Superwhisper supports macOS, Windows, and iOS. There is no Android app. If you need Android support, Wispr Flow covers Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android.

Does Wispr Flow support teams?

Yes. Wispr Flow offers Growth plans with shared dictionaries, workspace management, centralized billing, usage analytics, SAML SSO, and HIPAA compliance. Enterprise plans add SCIM, audit logs, and MDM support. Superwhisper does not offer team plans.

Is the Superwhisper lifetime deal worth it?

At $249.99, the lifetime plan breaks even against the $84.99/yr annual plan around year three. If you plan to use voice dictation for three or more years and prefer to avoid recurring charges, the lifetime option saves money over time.

Can I use Wispr Flow for medical dictation?

Wispr Flow offers HIPAA enforcement with a signed Business Associate Agreement on its Growth plan ($18/mo annually) and above. This makes it suitable for environments that handle protected health information. Superwhisper does not offer HIPAA compliance.

What languages do Wispr Flow and Superwhisper support?

Both tools support over 100 languages. Wispr Flow also handles multilingual mixing, such as switching between English and Hindi within the same sentence. Superwhisper's language support depends on the Whisper model selected, with larger models generally performing better on non-English languages.

Can I use both Wispr Flow and Superwhisper at the same time?

You can install both, but running two system-wide dictation tools simultaneously with overlapping hotkeys would cause conflicts. Most users pick one for their primary dictation needs. You could assign different hotkeys to each if you wanted to use Wispr Flow for its cloud accuracy and Superwhisper for offline situations.

How does Superwhisper compare to using Apple's built-in dictation?

Superwhisper offers significantly more control than Mac's built-in dictation. You get model selection, custom modes with per-app behavior, LLM post-processing for text cleanup, and the ability to run larger, more accurate models. Apple's dictation is simpler and requires no setup, but it lacks the customization and accuracy that Superwhisper provides. See the full comparison at Superwhisper vs Mac Dictation.